How to Master Growth Mindset to Improve Performance | Dr. David Yeager

Andrew Huberman

Apr 15, 2024

Episode description

In this episode, my guest is Dr. David Yeager, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author of the forthcoming book "10 to 25." We discuss how people of any age can use growth mindset and stress-is-enhancing mindsets to improve motivation and performance.

We explain the best mindset for mentors and being mentored and how great leaders motivate others with high standards and support. We also discuss why a sense of purpose is essential to goal pursuit and achievement.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, boss, coach, student or someone wanting to improve a skill or overcome a particular challenge, this episode provides an essential framework for adopting performance-enhancing mindsets leading to success.

Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
AeroPress: https://aeropress.com/huberman
ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman

Dr. David Yeager
Academic profile: https://bit.ly/3W08cnI
Publications: https://bit.ly/3W2ELkL
Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute: https://bit.ly/3VYLhZP
10 to 25 (book): https://amzn.to/3VYd9xl
SXSW EDU Keynote: https://youtu.be/Y_0L15AgtkI
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-yeager-3713905

Articles
A national experiment reveals where a growth mindset improves achievement: https://go.nature.com/3TSrfxs
Defensiveness versus remediation: Self-theories and modes of self-esteem maintenance: https://bit.ly/3U6frIe
Evaluating the Domain Specificity of Mental Health–Related Mind-Sets: https://bit.ly/3vRI4Rb
Wise interventions: Psychological remedies for social and personal problems: https://bit.ly/3U0RTV7
Boring but important: A self-transcendent purpose for learning fosters academic self-regulation: https://bit.ly/3UiFOe7
Breaking the cycle of mistrust: Wise interventions to provide critical feedback across the racial divide: https://bit.ly/49EpHwV
The Mentor’s Dilemma: Providing Critical Feedback Across the Racial Divide: https://bit.ly/4cVCqy8
The amygdala and the prefrontal cortex: The co-construction of intelligent decision-making: https://bit.ly/3JhBKW3
The use of functional and effective connectivity techniques to understand the developing brain: https://bit.ly/4cVCspK
Teaching a lay theory before college narrows achievement gaps at scale: https://bit.ly/3JhBM07
The power of self-persuasion: https://bit.ly/3Q1D9UI
A synergistic mindsets intervention protects adolescents from stress: https://go.nature.com/4cQpee1
What can be learned from growth mindset controversies?: https://bit.ly/3JgZJoz
Birdsong and Speech Development: Could There Be Parallels? There may be basic rules governing vocal learning to which many species conform, including man: https://bit.ly/3UhA31i
Promoting the Middle East Peace Process by Changing Beliefs About Group Malleability: https://bit.ly/3Uiop6r
Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk: https://bit.ly/3UgE3PB

Books
Cultures of Growth: https://amzn.to/3W1fnvI
The Last Lecture: https://amzn.to/3VXPFIo
Steve Jobs: https://amzn.to/3VWQTni

Other Resources
PubPeer: https://bit.ly/3VYbtUf
Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Address: https://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc

Huberman Lab Episodes Mentioned
Dr. Alia Crum: Science of Mindsets for Health & Performance: https://youtu.be/dFR_wFN23ZY
Dr. Becky Kennedy: Protocols for Excellent Parenting & Improving Relationships of All Kinds: https://youtu.be/XT_6Lvkhxvo
How to Enhance Performance & Learning by Applying a Growth Mindset: https://youtu.be/aQDOU3hPci0

List of people mentioned in this episode: https://bit.ly/4aWEaFl

Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. David Yeager
00:01:49 Sponsors: AeroPress & ROKA
00:04:20 Growth Mindset; Performance, Self-Esteem
00:10:31 “Wise” Intervention, Teaching Growth Mindset
00:15:12 Stories & Writing Exercises
00:19:42 Effort Beliefs, Physiologic Stress Response
00:24:44 Stress-Is-Enhancing vs Stress-Is-Debilitating Mindsets
00:29:28 Sponsor: AG1
00:30:58 Language & Importance, Stressor vs. Stress Response
00:37:54 Physiologic Cues, Threat vs Challenge Response
00:44:35 Mentor Mindset & Leadership; Protector vs Enforcer Mindset
00:53:58 Sponsor: Waking Up
00:55:14 Strivings, Social Hierarchy & Adolescence, Testosterone
01:06:28 Growth Mindset & Transferability, Defensiveness
01:11:36 Challenge, Environment & Growth Mindset
01:19:08 Goal Pursuit, Brain Development & Adaptation
01:24:54 Emotions; Loss vs. Gain & Motivation
01:32:28 Skill Building & Challenge, Purpose Motivation
01:39:59 Contribution Value, Scientific Work & Scrutiny
01:50:01 Self-Interest, Contribution Mindset
01:58:05 Criticism, Negative Workplaces vs. Growth Culture
02:06:51 Critique & Support; Motivation; Standardized Tests
02:16:40 Mindset Research
02:23:53 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #GrowthMindset

Disclaimer: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Episode description

In this episode, my guest is Dr. David Yeager, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author of the forthcoming book "10 to 25." We discuss how people of any age can use growth mindset and stress-is-enhancing mindsets to improve motivation and performance.

We explain the best mindset for mentors and being mentored and how great leaders motivate others with high standards and support. We also discuss why a sense of purpose is essential to goal pursuit and achievement.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, boss, coach, student or someone wanting to improve a skill or overcome a particular challenge, this episode provides an essential framework for adopting performance-enhancing mindsets leading to success.

Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
AeroPress: https://aeropress.com/huberman
ROKA: https://roka.com/huberman
Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman
Momentous: https://livemomentous.com/huberman

Dr. David Yeager
Academic profile: https://bit.ly/3W08cnI
Publications: https://bit.ly/3W2ELkL
Texas Behavioral Science and Policy Institute: https://bit.ly/3VYLhZP
10 to 25 (book): https://amzn.to/3VYd9xl
SXSW EDU Keynote: https://youtu.be/Y_0L15AgtkI
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-yeager-3713905

Articles
A national experiment reveals where a growth mindset improves achievement: https://go.nature.com/3TSrfxs
Defensiveness versus remediation: Self-theories and modes of self-esteem maintenance: https://bit.ly/3U6frIe
Evaluating the Domain Specificity of Mental Health–Related Mind-Sets: https://bit.ly/3vRI4Rb
Wise interventions: Psychological remedies for social and personal problems: https://bit.ly/3U0RTV7
Boring but important: A self-transcendent purpose for learning fosters academic self-regulation: https://bit.ly/3UiFOe7
Breaking the cycle of mistrust: Wise interventions to provide critical feedback across the racial divide: https://bit.ly/49EpHwV
The Mentor’s Dilemma: Providing Critical Feedback Across the Racial Divide: https://bit.ly/4cVCqy8
The amygdala and the prefrontal cortex: The co-construction of intelligent decision-making: https://bit.ly/3JhBKW3
The use of functional and effective connectivity techniques to understand the developing brain: https://bit.ly/4cVCspK
Teaching a lay theory before college narrows achievement gaps at scale: https://bit.ly/3JhBM07
The power of self-persuasion: https://bit.ly/3Q1D9UI
A synergistic mindsets intervention protects adolescents from stress: https://go.nature.com/4cQpee1
What can be learned from growth mindset controversies?: https://bit.ly/3JgZJoz
Birdsong and Speech Development: Could There Be Parallels? There may be basic rules governing vocal learning to which many species conform, including man: https://bit.ly/3UhA31i
Promoting the Middle East Peace Process by Changing Beliefs About Group Malleability: https://bit.ly/3Uiop6r
Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk: https://bit.ly/3UgE3PB

Books
Cultures of Growth: https://amzn.to/3W1fnvI
The Last Lecture: https://amzn.to/3VXPFIo
Steve Jobs: https://amzn.to/3VWQTni

Other Resources
PubPeer: https://bit.ly/3VYbtUf
Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Address: https://youtu.be/UF8uR6Z6KLc

Huberman Lab Episodes Mentioned
Dr. Alia Crum: Science of Mindsets for Health & Performance: https://youtu.be/dFR_wFN23ZY
Dr. Becky Kennedy: Protocols for Excellent Parenting & Improving Relationships of All Kinds: https://youtu.be/XT_6Lvkhxvo
How to Enhance Performance & Learning by Applying a Growth Mindset: https://youtu.be/aQDOU3hPci0

List of people mentioned in this episode: https://bit.ly/4aWEaFl

Timestamps
00:00:00 Dr. David Yeager
00:01:49 Sponsors: AeroPress & ROKA
00:04:20 Growth Mindset; Performance, Self-Esteem
00:10:31 “Wise” Intervention, Teaching Growth Mindset
00:15:12 Stories & Writing Exercises
00:19:42 Effort Beliefs, Physiologic Stress Response
00:24:44 Stress-Is-Enhancing vs Stress-Is-Debilitating Mindsets
00:29:28 Sponsor: AG1
00:30:58 Language & Importance, Stressor vs. Stress Response
00:37:54 Physiologic Cues, Threat vs Challenge Response
00:44:35 Mentor Mindset & Leadership; Protector vs Enforcer Mindset
00:53:58 Sponsor: Waking Up
00:55:14 Strivings, Social Hierarchy & Adolescence, Testosterone
01:06:28 Growth Mindset & Transferability, Defensiveness
01:11:36 Challenge, Environment & Growth Mindset
01:19:08 Goal Pursuit, Brain Development & Adaptation
01:24:54 Emotions; Loss vs. Gain & Motivation
01:32:28 Skill Building & Challenge, Purpose Motivation
01:39:59 Contribution Value, Scientific Work & Scrutiny
01:50:01 Self-Interest, Contribution Mindset
01:58:05 Criticism, Negative Workplaces vs. Growth Culture
02:06:51 Critique & Support; Motivation; Standardized Tests
02:16:40 Mindset Research
02:23:53 Zero-Cost Support, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

#HubermanLab #GrowthMindset

Disclaimer: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Recognize hyper-criticism as a defensive strategy

People who are constantly critical of others may be operating from a fixed mindset, attacking others as a defensive strategy to avoid having their own flaws exposed.

Leverage emotions to train your rational brain

Modern neuroscience suggests that emotional brain regions often act as the teacher, training the prefrontal cortex on how to best pursue goals.

Frame tasks as contributions to others for greater persistence

Studies show that framing a difficult task as a way to contribute to others leads to greater persistence than framing it as a way to achieve personal gain.

Recognize limitations of wearables in tracking mindset states

Wearable devices that track stress can't distinguish between positive, high-arousal 'challenge' states and negative, high-arousal 'threat' states.

Break the cycle of stress about being stressed

The physical feeling of stress is a secondary stressor that our brain must interpret, often leading to a negative loop of being stressed about being stressed.

Persuade others to change your own mind

One of the best ways to change your own mind about something is to try to persuade somebody else of that idea, a technique called 'saying is believing.'.

Adopt a growth mindset to learn from top performers after failure

After a failure, a growth mindset prompts you to learn from top performers, while a fixed mindset leads you to compare yourself to lower performers to protect your ego.

Embrace growth mindset to unlock potential with support

The core idea of growth mindset is that your potential can change with the right support, not that you can do anything simply by trying harder.

Reframe struggle as noble act through contribution

When your goal is to help others, the effort itself becomes rewarding because the struggle is reframed as a noble act rather than a sign of personal failure.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius

Unlock the wisdom of longevity

© Mindsip 2025 – Made with ❤ in Vilnius